University athletic directors have slashed varsity sports from their schools in recent years in an effort to trim their budgets amid an economic downturn. Could the University of Michigan do the opposite?

Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said he’d like to add varsity men’s and women’s lacrosse at some point during his tenure. “I’m really interested in pursuing lacrosse as a varsity sport,” he said recently. “It’s a fast-growing sport and a great television sport.”

Currently, the Wolverines have a men’s lacrosse team that has competed as a club team since 1965. It plays in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association and does not offer scholarships.

“Obviously, I’m excited that there is the possibility of adding lacrosse at Michigan, if Dave Brandon ultimately decides it’s the right move,” club team coach John Paul wrote in an e-mail.

He deferred on further comment to Brandon.

No timetable exists for launching the programs. Brandon said there are operational, facility and financial questions that need answers before he could project a start date.

Michigan’s athletic department projected an operating surplus of $16.2 million for fiscal year 2010, but that is expected to narrow to $4.7 million in 2011.

Michigan offers 25 varsity sports. Women’s water polo was the last sport added to the varsity level - that move came in 2001.

Sixty schools offer Division I NCAA men’s lacrosse programs, although just two Big Ten schools are among them - Ohio State and Penn State. Northwestern offers women’s lacrosse, but not men’s.

Brandon hopes to be part of a growing trend.

“You’re starting to see it move into the Big Ten,” he said. “So you’re starting to see it come a little bit west. More and more high schools feature it as a major sport with spectator interest and participation.”

Pete Bigelow covers the Michigan football team for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2551, via e-mail at petebigelow@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @PeterCBigelow.

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